USCIS Announces Application Fee Increases, Effective April 1, 2024
On January 31, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) published a Final Rule to adjust fees for certain immigration and naturalization benefit applications, effective April 1, 2024. As indicated in the announcement, as USCIS is almost entirely funded by the application fees, and as such periodic, comprehensive fee reviews are required by law.
A copy of the full USCIS Final Rule is available here.
USCIS has also posted a Frequently Asked Questions page for the new Fee Rule, which includes a summary of the rule and a full New Fee Schedule Table, here.
In addition to updates in the USCIS application fees, there will be updated versions of the application forms for each filing type that will be released in the same timeline. USCIS will use the postmark date of a filing to determine which form version and fees are correct, and will use the receipt date of the application for any regulatory or statutory filing deadlines.
For our international students and scholars, the following are some common USCIS applications filed and the updated fee costs (effective April 1, 2024):
*Form I-129 (e.g. H-1B petitions): no increase for H-1B cap exempt employers, such as certain nonprofits (including educational institutions like MIT) and small employers; increase from $460 to $780 for all other employers.
*Form I-539 Change or Extension of Nonimmigrant Status (e.g. including change to F-1 or J-1, F-1 to F-2, J-1 to J-2, change from F-1/J-1 to B-2, change to or extension of H-4 status, etc.)
Online Filing: increase from $370 to $420
Paper Filing: increase from $370 to $470
*I-765 Application for Employment Authorization (e.g. F-1 Optional Practical Training, F-1 STEM Optional Practical Training Extension, J-2 work permission)
Online Filing (F-1 OPT, STEM OPT Extension): increase from $410 to $470
Paper Filing (F-1 OPT, STEM OPT Extension; J-2 work permission): increase from $410 to $520
When filing an application with USCIS, it is important to check the filing instructions on the USCIS website for the Form type you are filing; including verification of the correct version of the application Form (if filing by paper application), confirmation of the correct application fee(s), and to confirm the correct mailing address for USCIS based on the Form type if you will be filing the application by mail either through the U.S. Postal Service or by an Express Mail Courier Services (such as FedEx, UPS).
We will be sure to post any additional information or updates provided by USCIS. If any questions arise, please contact your advisor at the MIT International Students Office (ISO) or the MIT International Scholars Office (ISchO).
